Stock index futures pointed to a lower open Friday after the U.S. trade gap widened in December and jitters over Egypt continued.
Wall Street had a muted reaction in late trading to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's refusal to step down Thursday, but nervousness persisted through international trading, particularly in Europe where the major indexes were broadly lower.
Geopolitics will likely dictate morning trading as well, with little on the economic calendar to drive sentiment.
The U.S. trade gap widened in December, with the full-year trade gap registering its biggest percentage increase in 10 years, according to the Commerce Department. The U.S. deficit in international trade of goods and services rose 5.9 percent to $40.6 billion from a slightly revised $38.32 billion the month before, topping economists' estimates for a $40.5 billion shortfall.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment data is due out at 9:55 am ET. Economists expect a reading of 75.0 compared with 74.2 in the final January report.
On the earnings front, Dow component Kraft reported quarterly earnings in line with expectations after the bell Thursday, but the stock struggled after guidance failed to inspire buyers.
